Military ribbon holder

ABSTRACT

One or more military campaign ribbons are mounted on the front of a uniform by sliding them lengthwise along an elongated channel-shaped metallic strip having a base portion with a pair of forwardly diverging sides. The base is arcuate in cross section, and the sides have arcuate rib portions with flanges adapted to slidably receive the ribbon.

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Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell MILITARY RIBI 3ON HOLDER Assistant Examiner-Wenceslao J. Contreras 4 Claims, 4 Drawing g Attorney-Christie, Parker and l-lale 0 m 3 k 4 A [5]] lnt.Cl...... [50] Field of ABSTRACT: One or more military campaign ribbons are mounted on the front of a uniform by sliding them lengthwise along an elongated channel-shaped metallic strip having a [5 6] References C'ted base portion with a pair of forwardly diverging sides. The base UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1950 Elkies..................

is arcuate in cross section, and the sides have arcuate rib portions with flanges adapted to slidably receive the ribbon.

w LEW? MILITARY umBoN HOLDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a holder for military campaign rib bons, and more particularly to the type in which the ribbon is slid lengthwise along an elongated channel-shaped strip of metal. The now-expired US. Pat. No. 2,495,577 to Elkies discloses a military ribbon mounting bar having a channel-shaped cross-sectional configuration. This device comprises a flat strip of metal with straight forwardly diverging flanges adapted to slidably engage the rearwardly converging flanges of a conventional military ribbon. Although this particular mounting bar has been successful commercially, it exhibits a number of disadvantages which are overcome by the improvement of this invention. For example, it has been found that strength is added to the channel by altering its cross-sectional configuration in accordance with this invention. This permits the use of lighter gauge metal and results in decreased production costs and a more flexible ribbon holder.

Standard military campaign ribbons are fabricated according to relatively lenient tolerances, and consequently, ribbons tend to fluctuate in size. The ribbon holder of this invention can be adapted to fit all sizes of military ribbons meeting presently specified tolerances. Because of the improved strength, flexibility, and lighter gauge metal of the channel, a person is able to adjust channel size quickly and easily by using his fingers to squeeze together or spread apart the sides of the channel. Furthermore, when a person wears several rows of ribbons, the increased flexibility of the channel allows the ribbons to continuously adapt to thecontour of his body.

The mounting bar disclosed in the Elkies patent is not adjustable in width to hold varying sizes of military ribbons. Instead, projecting tongues are used at the ends of each bar to prevent the ribbons from sliding ofi the bars. When displayed on the uniform, these tongues are visible from the side and detract from appearance. Some military ribbon holders on the market are constructed of plastic material; but, in order to match the strength of a metallic ribbon holder, the plastic holder must be considerably thicker in cross section. As a result, plastic ribbon holders are unnecessarily bulky and do not have the flexibility which permits adjusting the size of the channel. Furthermore, the added thickness of the holder is not aesthetically appealing because the holder is visible when the ribbons are viewed from the side. The ribbon holder of this invention permits the use of thin strip metal which is substantially concealed when a ribbon is mounted in place.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides an improved military ribbon holder for mounting ribbons in vertically aligned and horizontally extending parallel rows on the front of a uniform. The ribbon holder is used to mount the type of ribbon having a flat, rectangular face with rearwardly converging flanges.

Briefly, the ribbon holder comprises a horizontal, channelshaped mounting bar adapted to be secured to the front of a uniform. The mounting bar is an elongated metal strip having a channel-shaped cross section which defines a base portion with forwardly diverging sides. The base portion is arcuate in cross section and is secured to the front of the uniform so that its center arches forwardly away from the plane of the uniform. The sides of the channel include a pair of forwardly diverging arcuate rib sections integral with the longitudinal borders of the base portion. A pair of forwardly diverging flanges are integral with the longitudinal borders of the rib portions. A ribbon is secured to the mounting bar by engaging the flanges of the ribbon with the flanges of the channel and sliding the ribbon lengthwise along the mounting bar. Preferably, the ends of each flange are rounded to enable the ribbon to start easier. If more than one mounting bar is used, the bars are mounted on a flat metal backing plate which is adapted to be secured to the front of the uniform.

Preferably, the mounting bar of this invention is fabricated out of flat-walled, channel-shaped blanks of thin-gauge stainless steel. It has been found, however, that adding the curved surfaces to the channel, as contemplated by this invention, increases the strength of the channel. Consequently, a channelshaped ribbon holder having a flat base with straight outwardly projecting sides, such as that disclosed in the Elkies patent, will have less strength than a ribbon holder constructed in accordance with this invention. In order to match the strength of the channel provided bythis invention, mounting bars without the curved channel will require heavier gauge metal. This results in a bulkier, heavier ribbon holder not having the desired degree of flexibility provided by thisinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a person 10 is wearing a uniform 12 with military ribbons 14 mounted in parallel, horizontal rows. The ribbons are held in place by the ribbon holder of this invention which comprises a pair of elongated channelshaped mounting bars 16 secured to the front side of a substantially flat, rectangular, metal backing plate 18. The Ion gitudinal path defined by mounting bars 16 is slightly curved to'fit the contour of the persons vbody. A prong 20 projects rearwardly from the top back side of the backing plate, and a similar pair of prongs 22 project rearwardly from the outer ends of the lower mounting bars. The ribbon holder is attached to the uniform by passing the prongs through the front of the uniform and inserting them in cooperating releasable clasps 24 which clamp the prongs on the underside of the uniform. The number of prongs and clasps used and their location on the ribbon holder vary depending on the number of mounting bars. If only one mounting bar is worn, it is preferable to omit backing plate 18 and secure the bar directly to the front of the uniform using a prong at each end of the bar.

The standard military campaign ribbon 14 includes a metal ribbon clip having a flat, rectangular face 26 with rearwardly converging flanges 28 integral with the longitudinal edges of the face. A ribbon-type fabric 30 covers the ribbon clip and is held securely against the clip by a flat, rectangular, metal back strip 32. The back strip is slidably engaged with flanges 28 so that it locks the ribbon securely between itself and the back side of face 26. A longitudinal slot 34 extends through the back strip and is adapted to cooperate with an adjacent longitudinal slot (not shown) in the face of the clip to facilitate the mounting of variousgrnilitary emblems on the frontal surface of the ribbon bar. For example, a battle star 36 has two rearwardly projecting wire prongs 38 adapted to be pushed through the ribbon fabric and the corresponding slots and then bent lengthwise against the back strip to clamp the star to the ribbon.

Mounting bar 16 is an elongated channel-shaped strip of light-gauge metal, preferably stainless steel. Thebar has a cross-sectional configuration comprising an elongated arcuate base portion 42 adapted to lie against backing plate 18 so that the center of the base portion arches away from the plate. A plurality of weld joints 44 secure the base portion of the mounting bar to the front side of the backing plate. A pair of forwardly diverging arcuate rib sections 46 is integral with longitudinal borders of the base portion. A pair of forwardly diverging straight flanges 48 is integral with the longitudinal borders of the rib sections. The flanges and their corresponding rib sections cooperate with base portion 42 to form a channel 50. The flanges are slidably engageable with the rearwardly projecting flanges 28 of ribbon 14 so that the ribbon spans the channel after it is slid lengthwise onto the mounting bar. The depth of the channel is suflicient to allow ribbons having emblems with rearwardly projecting bent prongs to easily clear the base of the channel. Preferably, mounting bar length varies, as required, to hold from one to four ribbons. The ribbons preferably extend approximately one-eighth inch beyond the end of each mounting bar so that when displayed on the uniform and viewed from any angle, the mounting bars are virtually invisible, thereby adding to good uniform appearance.

The flanges 28 on standard military ribbons are designed to project rearwardly at an angle of 60 with reference to the plane of face 26. However, presently prescribed tolerances allow this angle to vary between 50 and 70. Consequently,

lclaim: l. A mounting device for mounting a military ribbon on a garment, the military ribbon being of the type having a substantially fiat, rectangular face with flanges integral with the flanges 48 preferably project outwardly at an angle of 50 with i reference to the plane of face 26 or back strip 32. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 4. .The plane defined by the face'or the back strip is represented by the dashed lines at 52. Presently imposed ribbon tolerances also allow for a slight variation in the width of face 26 and back strip 32. The flexibility provided by the mounting bar of this invention permits the size of channel 50 to be adapted to fit all ribbons fabricated in accordance with these tolerances.

It is particularly desirable that flanges 48 diverge forwardly so that their edges 54 ride against back strip 32 instead of the ribbon fabric. For example, some mounting bars have outer flanges running parallel to back strip 32. In these devices, the outer edges of the flanges ride on the ribbon fabric when the ribbon is slid lengthwise along the mounting bar. If the ribbon is slid back and forth often enough, the sharp edges of the flanges cause the ribbon to tear or become frayed. This problem is avoided by the present invention because the edges of flanges 48 do not contact the ribbon fabric.

longitudinal edges of the face and converging toward the plane of the garment, the mounting device being constructed of strip metal and comprising:

an elongated base portion adapted to be secured to the garment, the length of the base portion being arcuate in transverse cross section so the base portion arches outwardly away from the plane of the garment;

a pair of elongated rib sections integral with the outer longitudinal edges of the base portion, the rib sections being arcuate in transverse cross section and diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment; and

a pair of elongated flanges integral with the longitudinal outer edges of the rib portions and diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment, the flanges of the mounting device and their corresponding rib portions cooperating with the base portion to form a channel with sides diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment, whereby the ribbon is mounted on the garment by engaging its flanges with the flanges of the mounting device and sliding it lengthwise along the sides of the channel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal path defined by the mounting device is curved.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the flanges'are rounded to facilitate ease of engagement with the flanges of the ribbon.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a mounting plate, means for securing the mounting device to one side of the mounting plate, and means on the other side of the mounting plate for securing the mounting plate and mounting device to the garment. 

1. A mounting device for mounting a military ribbon on a garment, the military ribbon being of the type having a substantially flat, rectangular face with flanges integral with the longitudinal edges of the face and converging toward the plane of the garment, the mounting device being constructed of strip metal and comprising: an elongated base portion adapted to be secured to the garment, the length of the base portion being arcuate in transverse cross section so the base portion arches outwardly away from the plane of the garment; a pair of elongated rib sections integral with the outer longitudinal edges of the base portion, the rib sections being arcuate in transverse cross section and diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment; and a pair of elongated flanges integral with the longitudinal outer edges of the rib portions and diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment, the flanges of the mounting device and their corresponding rib portions cooperating with the base portion to form a channel with sides diverging outwardly away from the plane of the garment, whereby the ribbon is mounted on the garment by engaging its flanges with the flanges of the mounting device and sliding it lengthwise along the sides of the channel.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal path defined by the mounting device is curved.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the ends of the flanges are rounded to facilitate ease of engagement with the flanges of the ribbon.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a mounting plate, means for securing the mounting device to one side of the mounting plate, and means on the other side of the mounting plate for securing the mounting plate and mounting device to the garment. 